Chapter 004

•ALEXIS•

━━━╾𖤓╼━━━

Jasmine called my name again, this time much closer.

Connor's gaze settled on me. "Parking lot behind the rink. Ten minutes. Come alone if you're interested."

Then he walked away.

I stood there, watching him disappear around the corner.

A few seconds later, Jasmine reached me. She looked at my face, then at the direction Connor had gone.

"What the hell did he want?"

"Nothing good."

“Alexis, you're acting weird.”

"I have to go."

She stepped in front of me. "You're not going anywhere until you tell me what that guy wanted."

"Jasmine, I have a shift at the bookstore."

"And I have questions,” she snapped.

I sighed.

"I'll explain everything later. I promise."

She studied my face. "You're not getting yourself into more trouble, are you?"

I didn't answer.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Alexis."

"I'll be fine!."

She clearly didn't believe me, but she finally stepped aside.

"If you disappear, I'm burning that hockey house to the ground. I'm not even joking."

I managed a small smile.

"Noted."

I turned and walked away before she could ask anything else.

The ice rink was on the far side of campus. It was a large building made of concrete and glass.

The parking lot behind it was mostly empty.

Connor's truck was easy to spot. It was black, slightly beat up, and looked like it had been through more than a few rough rides.

He was leaning against the back of it when I arrived.

His hoodie sleeves were still pushed up, and his gold chain rested against his neck. He watched me approach without moving.

"You came."

"You told me to be here in ten minutes. I made it."

He glanced at his watch.

"You're late."

I stared at him. "By how much? Three seconds?"

"Four."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're unbelievable."

A small smile touched his lips before he pushed away from the truck.

"Get in."

I looked at him.

"I'm not getting into a car with you."

"We're not going anywhere. I just don't feel like having the walls listening to our conversation."

He opened the passenger door.

"Your choice."

I looked around the empty parking lot.

Then I remembered the hospital notification I still hadn't opened.

I let out a tired breath and climbed into the truck.

The inside smelled like fresh soap and something that reminded me of his cologne. Connor closed my door, walked around, and got behind the wheel.

He didn't start the engine.

Instead, he rested one hand on the steering wheel and turned toward me.

"Let's get one thing straight. Dylan isn't going to stop talking about you."

I looked out the window. "I don't care what he says."

"Then you haven't been paying attention."

I turned back. "What does that mean?"

"He has been telling people you were already checked out of the relationship. That you made him feel like he had to take care of you. According to him, he did you a favor by moving on."

I laughed without finding anything funny. "That's rich coming from someone who couldn't keep his hands off another girl."

"He's going to keep spreading that story. And people like Reid Brooks will keep adding their own versions."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I have a way to shut them all up."

I frowned.

"How?"

Connor looked directly at me.

"We date."

I blinked.

"What!?"

"Fake date. For the rest of the hockey season."

For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him.

Then I laughed.

Not because it was funny, but because the whole idea was ridiculous to me.

"You're joking."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"You're asking me to date you?"

"Technically, I'm asking you to pretend to date me. There's a difference."

I stared at him.

"You're Dylan's brother."

"Thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot."

"Are you insane?"

"Not that I know of."

I shook my head.

"This is ridiculous."

"Maybe. But it solves a few problems."

"What problems?"

He counted them on his fingers.

"First, my brother gets to watch the girl he cheated on dating the one person he can't stand."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You're enjoying that part a little too much."

"Can't deny it."

He continued.

"Second, the team and the boosters stop asking questions about my personal life. They like seeing their players look settled and responsible. A girlfriend helps with that image."

"And third?"

"You get paid."

I stopped moving.

"Paid?"

Connor nodded.

"Enough to cover your mother's treatment for the next three months."

My stomach tightened.

I looked at him carefully.

"How do you know about my mother?"

"I know you work two jobs, and I know you've been struggling with her medical bills. It wasn't exactly difficult to figure out."

I didn't like that answer. "Have you been asking people about me?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I have better things to do."

"Then stay out of my business."

"I would, but you're the one I want for this arrangement."

I stared at him.

"Why me?"

"You're already connected to my brother. People know what happened between you two. Seeing you with me will get under his skin without us having to do much."

I looked away.

The thought of Dylan seeing me with Connor was satisfying.

But the idea of pretending to be in a relationship with someone like Connor Young was another problem entirely.

"How much?" I finally asked.

Connor's expression barely changed.

"Enough to cover the treatment and give you some breathing room."

"That's not an amount."

He gave me a look. "You're more interested in the money than the revenge."

"I'm interested in paying my mother's bills. Revenge doesn't pay hospital fees."

For the first time, he seemed genuinely amused.

"Fair enough."

He reached into the center console and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.

"This is the proposed payment arrangement. You'll get your first payment after signing the agreement. The rest will be paid every two weeks."

I didn't take it immediately.

"And what exactly do you expect from me?"

"Three things."

He held up a finger.

"First, no feelings. This is business. You don't fall for me, and I don't fall for you. When the season ends, the arrangement ends."

I scoffed.

"Trust me, falling for you isn't on my to-do list."

"Good. One less thing to worry about."

He raised a second finger.

"Second, no unnecessary kissing. We only do what we need to do in public. If people are watching, we act like a couple. If we're alone, we don't have to pretend."

I looked at him.

"So, I get to enjoy your wonderful personality without the kissing?"

"Something like that."

"How generous."

He ignored me and raised a third finger.

"Third, we're not sleeping together. Not once. I don't want complications, and I'm guessing you don't either."

I stared at him for a second.

"Did you really need to explain that?"

"Yes. I want everything clear before we start."

"Fine by me."

He lowered his hand.

"Good."

I glanced at the paper in his hand. "And what happens if I change my mind?"

"Then we end the arrangement."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. You keep whatever money you've already received."

That was something I needed to hear.

I reached for the paper, but he held it back for a moment.

"There's one more thing."

I gave him an annoyed look. "Are you planning to add a fourth rule?"

"No. You'll meet the lawyer tomorrow. Christian Green. He'll prepare the actual agreement, including the payment details. You can read everything before signing."

I nodded slowly.

At least he wasn't expecting me to sign some random piece of paper in his truck.

"And what if I refuse?"

Connor shrugged.

"Then you go back to your slavery bookstore and waitress shifts, and I find someone else."

His answer was so casual that it annoyed me.

"You're very confident I'll agree."

"I think you need the money."

My expression changed. He noticed but didn't take it back. I looked down at my hands.

He was right.

My mother had another appointment coming up. The last time we spoke, she had spent half the conversation complaining about the hospital food and making jokes about how she deserved better.

She hadn't wanted me to worry. But I knew how bad things were.

I remembered the way she looked during her last visit. How tired she seemed, even when she smiled.

I couldn't afford to turn down an opportunity that could help her.

Not when I had no other option.

I looked back at Connor. "Why do you want me personally to do this? You could choose any girl on campus."

"Most girls on campus would make this more complicated than it needs to be."

"And I'm different?"

"You're desperate enough to agree, stubborn enough to argue with me, and you already have a reason to make my brother miserable."

I narrowed my eyes.

"That almost sounded like a compliment."

"Don't get used to it."

I shook my head and finally took the paper.

The amount printed on it made my eyes widen slightly.

$20,000.

I read it again, certain I'd misunderstood.

Twenty thousand dollars.

It was more than I had expected. Enough to cover my mother's treatment for the next three months, with some money left over for emergencies.

I looked at Connor.

"This is real money, right? You're not expecting me to pretend to be your girlfriend for free?"

He gave me a flat stare. "Do I look like I have time for charity?"

"Honestly? You look like someone who enjoys making other people's lives difficult."

"That's a separate hobby,” he said.

I looked down at the paper again. There was still one thing I needed to make clear.

"If I agree to this, you don't touch me unless I say it's okay."

Connor's expression changed.

For the first time since I had met him, he didn't have an immediate answer.

He looked at me for a moment before nodding.

"I'm not attracted to you in any way."

"And I get to say no whenever I'm uncomfortable. I don't care who's watching,” I continued.

"Agreed."

"And no changing the rules halfway through."

"Are you finished?"

"Not even close."

He let out a quiet breath. "Anything else, Alexis?"

I folded the paper and placed it in my bag. "Don't expect me to fall in love with you."

His lips curved slightly. "Trust me. I won't lose sleep over that."

I looked at him for another moment. Then I took a deep breath.

"Fine. I'll do it."

Connor leaned back in his seat.

"Good."

"Don't look so pleased. I haven't signed anything yet."

"Tomorrow. Ten o'clock. Christian's office."

I nodded.

He reached for the keys and finally started the engine.

I opened the passenger door.

"Alexis."

I stopped and looked back at him. "One more thing."

I sighed.

"What now?"

His pale blue eyes met mine.

"Once we start, there's no pretending when people are watching. If you're with me, you act like you're with me."

I stared at him.

Then I gave him a small, challenging smile. "Don't worry, Young. I know how to play pretend."

His mouth curved. "We'll see, Alexis."

I stepped out of the truck and closed the door.

━━━╾𖤓╼━━━

I had just agreed to fake-date my cheating ex-boyfriend's younger brother.

And judging by Connor's expression, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.